Member Info for JohnnyB1

I don't believe that this has been mentioned on here previously, but stand to be corrected.

I have just noticed that Phil was appointed a Director of Microneedle Solutions Limited (MNS) on 1 May 2026.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13967922/officers

This is a link to their website:-

https://www.microneedlesolutions.com

"At MNS, we are excited to present our Miracus™ patch technology, a groundbreaking advancement in the field of microneedle technology. This unique platform is designed to transform the way medications are administered, making the process more efficient, less painful, and accessible to everyone."

Given that Scancell's full attention is on the iSCIB1+ planned Phase 3 trial why did Phil get distracted by becoming a Director of another company at such a critical time for Scancell?

My immediate thoughts are maybe Scancell are looking at using Miracus™ patch technology to deliver iSCIB1+ as a mono therapy in earlier stage melanoma ?

Page 17 of the Financial Year 2026 Interim Results states:-

Half 1 2026: iSCIB1+, "UK, EMA and other Regulatory clearances". This has not happened yet and is outside Scancell's control, Phil has expressed his disappointment about this.

Half 1 2026: Modi1, "PFS data in Head & Neck" and "PFS in Renal Cell Carcinoma with CPIs". This is something that is within Scancell's control. Scancell must have a reason delaying this past Half 1. Maybe they need the outstanding Regulatory clearances for iSCIB1+ before making a joint announcement on iSCIB1+ and Modi1?

https://scancell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Scancell-Interims-FY26-Presentation_FINAL2.pdf

I still feel that there could be a partnership with Natera, not just for iScib1+ (as previously discussed on here,) but also for Modi1.

Yesterday Natera and Aveta Biomics Announced a Strategic Partnership Supporting Global Phase 3 Registrational Trial of APG-157 in Head and Neck Cancer. This is for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). (Note the similarities with Modi1):-

https://www.natera.com/company/news/natera-and-aveta-biomics-announce-strategic-partnership-supporting-global-phase-3-registrational-trial-of-apg-157-in-head-and-neck-cancer/

I don't know how Aveta Biomics Global Phase 3 Registrational Trial is being funded. Does anyone know whether such a "Strategic Partnership" might involve Natera funding the trial?

For the benefit of anyone new to Scancell the common denominator here is Eric Rubin MD. He is on Scancell's Advisory Board and was also recently appointed Natera's Board of Directors.

GEN1079 may or may not be one of Scancell's antibodies, we simply do not know (we also do not know the trigger for the first milestone payment, it could for example be "first patient dosed").

My thoughts are that GEN1079 is either Scancell's antibody or Oxford Biotherapeutics OBT700R (They entered a licence agreement with Genmab 3 October 2022 very shortly before Scancell's licence agreement 25 October 2022).

https://www.oxfordbiotherapeutics.com/pipeline?partnership=partnered

Chester's reference to Bristol Myers Squibb is interesting.

On 3 June 2026 Natera announced the appointments of Thomas Lynch, M.D., and Eric Rubin, M.D., to the Company’s board of directors. Thomas Lynch, M.D was the Chief Scientific Officer of Bristol Myers Squibb March 2017 to October 2019. (We have previously discussed their appointment of Eric Rubin as a Director).

https://www.natera.com/company/news/natera-appoints-oncology-leaders-drs-thomas-lynch-and-eric-rubin-to-board-of-directors/

On 29 May 2026 Natera announced a new collaboration with Diakonos Oncology Corp. Coincidentally Diakonos Oncology Corp recently had FDA Fast Track designation for DOC1021 in unresectable or metastatic cutaneous melanoma albeit they are only commencing a Phase 1/2 melanoma study.

https://www.natera.com/company/news/natera-announces-collaboration-with-diakonos-oncology-for-signatera-in-refractory-melanoma/

I have mentioned Natera on here previously and would not be surprised to see them entering a collaboration with Scancell.

Alessandra Sabatini - Entrepreneurial Lead Discover, Innovate UK ICURe Part Time:

"As Entrepreneurial Lead, my job is to conduct market discovery for our novel RNA Polymerase enzymes and the engineering platform we developed. We will be targeting areas such as pharmaceuticals, CDMOs and CROs, academic research, biotechnology start ups and the reagent and kits market".

Alessandra posted the following on Linked-in:-

"What a fantastic couple of days at UK Biotech Day in London last week! 🧬

This event was particularly special, as it marked the final planned conference of my Innovate UK ICURe Discover journey. It has been an incredible couple months of market discovery, and I couldn't have asked for a better event to end this phase of the journey!

Across the two days, the agenda was packed with brilliant keynotes and panel discussions covering the entire pipeline, from early-stage pre-clinical research through to scaling up, strategic partnerships and commercialisation.

I was particulary fascinated by the session delivered by Phil L'Huillier of Scancell on the development of cancer vaccines for advanced melanoma and other difficult-to-treat cancers, and by the various panels on undruggable targets and novel therapeutic modalities.

A true highlight of the conference was, of course, the conversations. It was brilliant to connect with brilliant professionals in emerging biotechs, pharma, and consulting. It was also great to share this experience with fellow SETsquared Partnership entrepreneurial leads Will and Bayan.

A massive thank you to the organisers, the fantastic speakers, and everyone I had the pleasure of chatting with. The future of UK life sciences is looking really exciting!🔬

If we connected at the event, thank you for sharing your insights and being so generous with your time. If we didn’t quite manage to cross paths in the crowd, please do reach out. I would love to connect and hear your perspectives!"

Scancell did get approximately £2 million from Innovate UK in 2020 to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial ("COVIDITY"). It may be a bit too optimistic to expect them to fund Phase 3 of the Scope trial :-)

Matt Kiely was at UK Biotech Day. He posted the following on Linkedin (The third paragraph is interesting):-

"This week at UK Biotech Day, I joined leaders from across biotech, pharma, research and investment to help shape what’s next for life sciences in the UK.

As part of the Market Access and Commercialisation stream, we shared Genmab’s journey, from antibody innovation to becoming a fully integrated biotech, and how that evolution is helping us bring treatments to patients across Europe.

It was encouraging to see the continued focus on collaboration across the sector – and the critical role it plays in translating scientific progress into real-world impact – offering valuable context as we continue to advance our work in antibody-based science."

Hi Chester,

If you look at the graph on page 10 of the interim results presentation it shows PFS data for iSCIB1+ at up to 16 months and checkmate 067 up to 27 months.

The graph agrees with what Bermuda says "at 18 months the combination of ipi/nivo produced a PFS rate of 46%".

At 24 months Checkmate 067 PFS looks to be about 41%.

https://scancell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Scancell-Interims-FY26-Presentation_FINAL2.pdf

Thank you Chester,

I couldn't agree more.

Sorry to re-open this earlier thread but I feel that it is relevant (I refer to my 9 May'26 post in this thread).

Maybe it is simply coincidence, but it is possible that there could be a link between Eric Rubin's recent appointment as an independent Director of Natera and his recent addition to Scancell's Advisory Board. AIMHO

I see that following a Phase 3 trial Roche and Natera are in a collaboration agreement and have FDA approval:-

https://business-news-today.com/genentech-secures-first-ctdna-mrd-guided-therapy-approval-for-tecentriq-in-mibc/

"The approval is tied to Natera, Inc.’s Signatera CDx personalized molecular residual disease assay, making the decision a major regulatory validation for ctDNA-guided cancer treatment. The approval gives Roche another label expansion for Tecentriq while positioning Natera’s Signatera platform deeper inside oncology treatment selection rather than post-treatment monitoring alone. For investors and healthcare strategists, the bigger story is not just another immunotherapy indication, but the emergence of molecular residual disease testing as a treatment gatekeeper in high-risk cancer care."

"Genentech’s approval suggests that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now prepared to recognize ctDNA-guided intervention when supported by prospective Phase III survival evidence. That could have consequences well beyond bladder cancer, especially in tumor types where recurrence risk after surgery remains a major clinical and commercial problem."

The RNS 29 January 2026 states:- "Data readouts for Modi-1 in SSCHN and RCC anticipated in H1 2026". In this RNS Phil states ".................................while we will also explore partnering opportunities for Moditope® following new Modi-1 Phase 2 data expected in H1 2026."

Page 4 of the interim results presentation on the same day (referring to the Modify Study) states:- "PFS data in 2026"

https://scancell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Scancell-Interims-FY26-Presentation_FINAL2.pdf

I was looking at the Modify study on the Clinical Trials website:-

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05329532?viewType=Card&term=Scancell&rank=4

This states "Primary Completion (Estimated) 1 July 2026" and "Study Completion (Estimated) 1 July 2027".

My opinion (as a lay person) is that the Modify study update will probably be towards the end of June 2026, just before the "Primary Completion (Estimated) 1 July 2026". If you click on the "i" next to this it states:-

"The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "estimated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study."

Based on the above, I believe we will get "Primary Outcome" data for all (Estimated) 168 participants.

"Progression Free Survival" is listed as a "Secondary Outcome Measure". I interpret that will will get up to date PFS data (with full PFS data nearer the "Study Completion (Estimated) 1 July 2027".

(If you click in the "i" next to "Study Completion (Estimated) 1 July 2027" it states "The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "estimated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date").

AIMHO

This is the programme for the event:-

https://www.hklss.org/conference2026

"Scancell PLC — Biotech (GlyMab® antibody platform, developing high-affinity, tumour specific monoclonal antibodies targeting glycans (sugars) uniquely expressed on cancer cells) [Online Presentation]"

It is interesting that the presentation was about Glymab.

Chris Woodward, Director General, Trade and Investment, British Consulate-General Hong Kong said this on Linkedin:-

"Great discussion at the Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Conference yesterday, welcoming a UK healthcare delegation to Hong Kong.

Clear message: Hong Kong offers a powerful platform for UK life sciences firms to scale into Asia, while the UK’s renewed focus on speed, scale and partnership creates real momentum for collaboration.

Encouraging to see such strong interest in UK–Hong Kong partnerships across biotech, medtech and digital health.

Strong thanks to Nan Fung Group, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Horizons and Invest Hong Kong for making it happen."

Hi Ray,

Welcome to Fantasy Island :-)

None of us know how Scancell are going to fund Phase 3. My line of thought is that maybe Natera might want to enter some sort of partnership with Scancell and help fund Phase 3. Such a partnership could benefit both Scancell and Natera without giving a large chunk away to Big Pharma.

Natera appointed Eric Rubin to its Board as an independent Director 26 March 2026. it may not be connected but it was after this appointment that Scancell put the names of its Advisory Board (Including Eric Rubin) on its website 30 March'26.

I refer back to my earlier post about Natera's upcoming webinar and their reference to "ctDNA Monitoring". I put "ctDNA Monitoring" into a search on Scancell's website. This came up with an article dated 11 March 2024 that states:-

"Future directions for Scancell"

"As we advance our study it would be prudent to consider ctDNA and also the ongoing research on microbiota to inform at the early stages on patients that are likely to respond quickly to treatment vs those that might respond later and also a subgroup of patients that might not derive a benefit from novel therapies."

https://scancell.co.uk/scancell-attends-and-sponsors-the-annual-melanoma-patient-meeting/

Also Scancell's RNS 26 January 2026 states "In addition to demonstrating potentially best-in-class efficacy and durability, from the data analysis we have identified a SELECTION MARKER to enrich the phase 3 trial for responders." (The CAPITAL letters are mine for emphasis).

It is worth a reminder that Eric Rubin was appointed an independent Director of Natera (NTRA) in April 2026 (A Nasdaq listed company with a market cap. of 27 Billion USD):-

https://investor.natera.com/governance/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=3d81b239-c4ea-4ac4-959b-5295b6a0949e

If you look at the following page of their website you will see that they have an upcoming webinar on 14 May 2026. It states "Join us for an insightful webinar exploring findings from a recent multi-center, real-world study, “Longitudinal ctDNA Monitoring for Post-Surgical Disease Surveillance in Patients with Stage I–IIIB Melanoma.”:-

https://www.natera.com/oncology/signatera-advanced-cancer-detection/clinicians/signatera-for-skin-cancers/

I believe that the following is the Abstract that they are referring to:-

https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article/32/8/1513/782588/Longitudinal-ctDNA-Monitoring-for-Postsurgical

This is not Scancell's trial but it shows that this is a space that Natera are definitely interested in. AIMHO

CONTINUED FROM LAST POST

"That’s a rare admission, by Phase 2 standards, that the company has figured out who responds and who doesn’t, and is willing to pre-spec on it. Phase 3 starts the back half of 2026, with PFS and early OS data anticipated in 2027.

About 80% of advanced melanoma patients carry the relevant HLA haplotypes for iSCIB1+, so the addressable population is real. Scancell also has Modi-1 in Phase 2 across renal, head and neck, ovarian, and TNBC, and through Glymab subsidiary has GlyMab antibodies licensed to Genmab. So this is not a one-asset story even if iSCIB1+ flames out.

But if it doesn’t, you’re looking at the strongest cancer vaccine readout in a decade."

Benjamin McLeod on Linkedin

"STRONGEST CANCER VACCINE SIGNAL IN 10 YEARS

Scancell showed up with numbers that made the naysayers eat their words:

The Setup:

- iSCIB1+, a DNA vaccine encoding a modified antibody scaffold that displays melanoma antigens gp100 and TRP-2 to antigen-presenting cells

- Combined with ipilimumab and nivolumab

- 140 previously untreated stage IIIB/IV melanoma patients were dosed in a Phase 2 trial

The Breakthrough:

**77% progression-free survival at 20 months.**

The FDA noticed. And gave it Fast-Track designation.

Phase 3 starts back half of 2026.

We'll start seeing results of that in 2027.

If it holds, the cancer vaccine credibility problem starts looking very different.

What are your thoughts on this?

Drop them in the comments."

This is the article link:-

https://thebiotechvoyager.com/scancell-iscib1-melanoma-scope-phase-2-fast-track-20260428/

"Let’s be honest. Cancer vaccines have a BIT of a credibility problem.

Over a decade of swing-and-miss results have made the field a punchline at every JPM dinner (maybe after a few drinks when people loosen up).

Then, every once in a while, someone shows up with numbers that make the room shut up.

Scancell Holdings, the Oxford-based immunotherapy company that’s been quietly building its ImmunoBody platform since 2008, received FDA Fast Track Designation for iSCIB1+ in advanced melanoma.

They paired the announcement with updated data from the SCOPE Phase 2 trial that should turn heads.

iSCIB1+ is a DNA-based vaccine that encodes a modified antibody scaffold designed to display the melanoma antigens gp100 and TRP-2 to antigen-presenting cells, kicking off a high-avidity T cell response.

The trial combined iSCIB1+ with ipilimumab and nivolumab in 140 previously untreated stage IIIB/IV melanoma patients.

The headline number: 77% progression-free survival at 20 months.

Historical PFS for checkpoint inhibitors alone in this setting sits at roughly 43%.

Before you dive into that deep dish of crow, we have to caveat the obvious.

This is not a head-to-head randomized trial.

The 43% comparator is a historical benchmark, not a control arm. Still, its tempting to make the comparison, but any oncologist worth their salt will, correctly, want to see the Phase 3 readout before declaring victory.

And yet, that’s a 34-percentage-point absolute delta…

Even if the historical control gets generously revised upward, even if you give the iSCIB1+ arm a major haircut, for selection effects, you have to work hard to make those numbers look unimpressive.

The FDA giving Fast Track here is a separate vote of confidence on top of the data.

The other tactically interesting move: in their January announcement of FDA IND clearance for the Phase 3 registrational trial, Scancell mentioned they identified a selection marker from Phase 2 to enrich the Phase 3 trial for likely responders."

CONTINUED ON NEXT POST

Progression Free Survival (PFS) was 74% at 16 months but has increased to 77% at 20 months.

iSCIB1+ (Cohort 3) consists of 50 patients. 40 of these patients were the Target HLA (the other 10 were non target); however there were only 39 evaluable patients as one patient in the Target HLA population was non-evaluable due to brain metastases.

My understanding is that the number of patients with PFS at 16 months must have been 29 (29 out of 39 patients equals 74.36%, rounded to 74%).

It would therefore follow that the number of patients with PFS at 20 months must have been 30 (30 out of 39 patients equals 76.92%, rounded to 77%).

Long may the delta over the standard of care get wider.

Jambo Ian and RayP, thank you for your comments.

Jambo Ian. That's a good point there may be a conflict of interest, I honestly don't know where that would begin or end.

RayP, Yes that was my initial thought, Natera's Oncology work does seem to be testing products. However Scancell's presentation 11 December 2025 states "Target population: Defined a broad HLA eligible population representing 80% of patients" and goes on to say "Patient selection tool identified for Phase 3 responder enrichment". This is complete and utter speculation on my part but maybe Natera have developed this patient selection tool, maybe they are also interested in using this patient selection tool for potential use in the NeoAdjuvant/Adjuvant or even the preventative setting.

It is also worth mentioning that Scancell initially put the names of its Advisory Board on its website on or shortly before 22 March'26. For no apparent reason they removed these details the next day 23 March'26 (see my posts those days).

Natera appointed Eric Rubin to its Board as an independent Director 26 March 2026. it may not be connected but it was after this appointment that Scancell put the names of its Advisory Board back on its website 30 March'26.

Thank you Marcus. It is one and the same person. Interesting.

Eric Rubin MD is a member of Scancell's Advisory Board (Scancell's website was updated 30 March'26 with details of the Advisory Board).

Natera (NTRA) is a Nasdaq listed company with a market cap of $29 Billion Dollars. Natera appointed Eric Rubin to its Board as an independent Director 26 March 2026 (The timescale seems to fit in with the upcoming Phase 3 Scope trial) :-

https://trendonify.com/news/sec-filings/natera-appoints-eric-rubin-to-board-of-directors-163911

Just scratching the surface Natera does do a lot of work with melanoma using it's Signatera detection system:-

https://www.natera.com/oncology/signatera-advanced-cancer-detection/clinicians/signatera-for-skin-cancers/

Would Natera be interested in funding the Phase 3 Scope trial? They certainly are interested in testing for the detection of melanoma. I guess it would follow that they would also be interested Scancell's work on the identification of HLA type (representing 80% of melanoma patients) suitable for treatment. AIMHO

Incidentally Natera has 20 Abstracts at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026:-

https://info.natera.com/SanDiego-Presentations

(ONE CAVEAT. When I do a search for"Eric Rubin MD" 2 people come up. I am not certain whether Natera have appointed our Eric Rubin or the other one).